CA asks expats to invest at home
Unb, Dhaka
Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday urged Bangladeshi expatriates to invest in the country's potential sectors to reap dividends of the prevailing ideal business climate.The head of the caretaker government made the call when a delegation of Bangladesh-British Chamber of Commerce (BBCC), led by its Chairman Dr Walid Tasaruddin, met him at his office. Responding to the CA's call, the BBCC leaders said Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRB) want to invest in Bangladesh as they noted that their legal status is British but their hearts are in Bangladesh. The CA said, "Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRB) are also an asset of Bangladesh as they are contributing to the economy of both the home country and their respective countries of residence." He informed them that economic growth, development and poverty alleviation are the high-priority recipe of the caretaker government. Dr Ahmed also suggested them to think about the export of non-traditional items from Bangladesh. The BBCC leaders appreciated the chief adviser's leadership and his government's performance, saying that political stability is necessary for socioeconomic development. They put forward some suggestions, including setting up catering institutes, introducing special economic zones and improving facilities at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet. They apprised the CA of single-country Expo-2007 in October 2007 in London to be organised by BBCC and sought the government's cooperation. They noted the Expo-2005 was successful. The expatriate businessmen said the trade exposition will help promote trade relations between Bangladesh and Britain. The CA assured of extending all possible support in holding Expo-2007 as he was impressed with the BBCC activities, according to the CA's Press Secretary, Syed Fahim Munaim. "Bangladesh is changing rapidly and things are becoming better," the CA told the team. About special economic zone, the CA said the government has already taken up a programme on it and he will ask the Board of Investment (BoI) for the follow-up action. Regarding the setting up of catering institutes, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who was present at the meeting, said he will discuss with DFID (UK's Department for International Development) for their cooperation in establishing the institutes.
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